SF: allow "project deploy validate --metadata-dir" to be executed outside of an SFDX project

[mingjiefeng]

Summary

The new project deploy validate command (replacing force:mdapi:deploy) requires an SFDX project to deploy metadata in metadata format. The previous command did not have this requirement and the transition is causing difficulties with CI/CD since our directory structure does not conform to an SFDX project.

Steps To Reproduce

1. Create a folder temp
2. Create an empty package.xml in it:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Package xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata">
    <version>57.0</version>
</Package>

3. Go up a directory and execute
   sf project deploy validate --metadata-dir temp --async --target-org username --test-level RunLocalTests --json

Expected result

No error and metadata API deployment validation should have started and a job id should be returned.

Actual result

RequiresProjectError: This command is required to run from within a Salesforce project directory.
Code: RequiresProjectError

System Information

• Which shell or terminal are you using?
  cmd.exe

• Paste the full output of the version --verbose --json command for the CLI you're using (sf or sfdx) below

{
  "cliVersion": "@salesforce/cli/1.84.8",
  "architecture": "win32-x64",
  "nodeVersion": "node-v18.16.0",
  "osVersion": "Windows_NT 10.0.19044",
  "shell": "cmd.exe",
  "rootPath": "C:\\Users\\username\\AppData\\Roaming\\npm\\node_modules\\@salesforce\\cli",
  "pluginVersions": [
    "@oclif/plugin-autocomplete 2.3.0 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-commands 2.2.16 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-help 5.2.10 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-not-found 2.3.26 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-plugins 3.1.3 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-search 0.0.17 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-update 3.1.19 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-version 1.3.5 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-warn-if-update-available 2.0.39 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-which 2.2.22 (core)",
    "@salesforce/cli 1.84.8 (core)",
    "apex 2.3.3 (core)",
    "auth 2.8.2 (core)",
    "data 2.3.26 (core)",
    "deploy-retrieve 1.13.3 (core)",
    "info 2.6.22 (core)",
    "limits 2.3.22 (core)",
    "login 1.2.13 (core)",
    "org 2.9.14 (core)",
    "schema 2.3.14 (core)",
    "settings 1.4.14 (core)",
    "sobject 0.1.26 (core)",
    "source 2.10.19 (core)",
    "telemetry 2.2.1 (core)",
    "templates 55.4.22 (core)",
    "trust 2.4.22 (core)",
    "user 2.3.17 (core)"
  ]
}

Additional information

[github-actions]

Thank you for filing this issue. We appreciate your feedback and will review the issue as soon as possible. Remember, however, that GitHub isn't a mechanism for receiving support under any agreement or SLA. If you require immediate assistance, contact Salesforce Customer Support.

[github-actions]

Hello @mingjiefeng 👋 None of the versions of sf you shared match the latest release.

Shared: 1.84.0
Latest: 1.84.8

Update to the latest version of Salesforce CLI (docs) and confirm that you're still seeing your issue.
You can also try the rc and nightly releases! (docs)

After updating, share the full output of sf version --verbose --json

[mingjiefeng]

Updated to latest version and still have the same issue. Here's the version info.

{
  "cliVersion": "@salesforce/cli/1.84.8",
  "architecture": "win32-x64",
  "nodeVersion": "node-v18.16.0",
  "osVersion": "Windows_NT 10.0.19044",
  "shell": "cmd.exe",
  "rootPath": "C:\\Users\\username\\AppData\\Roaming\\npm\\node_modules\\@salesforce\\cli",
  "pluginVersions": [
    "@oclif/plugin-autocomplete 2.3.0 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-commands 2.2.16 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-help 5.2.10 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-not-found 2.3.26 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-plugins 3.1.3 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-search 0.0.17 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-update 3.1.19 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-version 1.3.5 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-warn-if-update-available 2.0.39 (core)",
    "@oclif/plugin-which 2.2.22 (core)",
    "@salesforce/cli 1.84.8 (core)",
    "apex 2.3.3 (core)",
    "auth 2.8.2 (core)",
    "data 2.3.26 (core)",
    "deploy-retrieve 1.13.3 (core)",
    "info 2.6.22 (core)",
    "limits 2.3.22 (core)",
    "login 1.2.13 (core)",
    "org 2.9.14 (core)",
    "schema 2.3.14 (core)",
    "settings 1.4.14 (core)",
    "sobject 0.1.26 (core)",
    "source 2.10.19 (core)",
    "telemetry 2.2.1 (core)",
    "templates 55.4.22 (core)",
    "trust 2.4.22 (core)",
    "user 2.3.17 (core)"
  ]
}

[git2gus]

This issue has been linked to a new work item: W-13721102

[mingjiefeng]

Thanks @WillieRuemmele! When are we expecting the fix to be released?

[WillieRuemmele]

Hi @mingjiefeng - going off of when the PR was merged "2 weeks ago", it should be released in latest this Wednesday today!